Star Apple - Health Benefits, Uses and Important Facts

Star apples are different from other kinds of apples. During the summer, a lot of people eat this sweet, delicate tropical fruit. It has a core that looks like a "starburst" and purple, juicy flesh. The nutrients in the star apple are what make it helpful. It has a lot of dietary fibre, vitamin C, and polyphenols, which may help lower blood sugar and improve gut health.

What is a star apple?

Star apple is a deep purple fruit that is also called a caimito or a cainito. It gets its name from the shape of its seeds, which look like stars. The fruits are very sweet and have a pulpy, jelly-like texture. Some people say they taste like applesauce with hints of grape and tropical fruits.

Star apple plant description:

Star apple is a tree that grows 8–20 m tall and has evergreen leaves. It grows well in a number of tropical or near-tropical places. It grows in a warm, humid place where the temperature stays high most of the year. It likes rich, well-drained soils, like the sandy soils in south Florida that are both low and high in pH and rocky and high in pH. The tree has a 60 cm-wide trunk and a dense, wide crown. It has a straight, cylinder-shaped trunk that is often fluted or pointed at the base. It has small or no buttresses, and its bark is rough, has irregular cracks, is brown, and gives off a white, sticky latex. The young branches are reddish brown and hairy.

Nutritional value of star apple:

Star apples are a good source of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, and they also taste sweet and like coconut. 100 grammes of star apple has 14.65 g of carbohydrates, 9.1 mg of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), 1.137 mg of vitamin B3 (niacin), 0.49 mg of iron, 1.92 g of total dietary fibre, 0.049 mg of vitamin B1, 1.52 g of protein, 0.038 mg of vitamin B2, and 18.95 mg of phosphorus. Also, 100 grams of Star apple has 0.004 grams of tryptophan, 0.022 grams of lysine, and 0.002 grams of methionine.

How to eat it:

• The sweet, ripe fruit mesocarp is delicious and can be eaten.
• Ripe fruit is eaten right away or, better yet, after it has been chilled. It is cut in half and the flesh is scooped out with a spoon.
• It is a part of both ice cream and sherbet.
• In Jamaica, it is sometimes used to make preserves.
• The skin and rind can't be eaten, and the latex is bitter.
• An imitation of milk-of-almonds is made by mixing the slightly bitter seed kernels into an emulsion.

Health benefits of star apple:

1. Helps keep your digestive system healthy 

Star apples have a lot of active fibre, which is mostly made up of carbs. This fibre helps keep the digestive system healthy and gets rid of constipation and other digestive problems.

It helps your bowel movements get back to normal and helps you get rid of constipation and other digestive problems. If you eat star apples, you can avoid some of the most dangerous health problems, like colon cancer.

2. Natural Antioxidants

Star apple is a natural source of antioxidants, which help the body get rid of harmful oxidising agents and keep the immune system healthy.

Free radicals like heart attacks and cancer can be prevented by eating foods like star apple that are high in antioxidants. By getting rid of free radicals, eating star apples regularly and in moderation can help slow the growth of dead cells.

3. Boosts Immune system

Vitamins found in star apples help make collagen, which is good for the immune system and helps diabetics control their blood sugar levels. Africa Because it has vitamin C and carotene, eating a star apple can help your immune system.

4. Prevents Anemia

Anemia caused by not having enough iron in the body is called iron deficiency. It has iron, which the body needs to make haemoglobin and keep from getting iron-deficiency anaemia. It can make you feel dizzy, lose your appetite, feel weak, have a fast heartbeat, get a headache, feel short of breath, and make you tired.

All of these things can be avoided by eating foods like star apples and vegetables that are high in iron.

5. Strengthens Bones 

African star apples have minerals like calcium and phosphorus that are important for keeping bones and teeth strong.

Because these fruits are high in calcium and phosphorus, eating them regularly can help strengthen your bones and keep you from getting many bone diseases.

6. Helps you lose weight

When eaten in the right way, Africa star apples can help you lose weight and keep your whole body healthy and beautiful.

Star apple is one of the best fruits for weight loss because it is low in fat and has a lot of dietary fibre, which makes you feel fuller even after eating for a long time.

If you are trying to lose weight, it is a great fruit to eat.

7. Prevents diabetes 

One of the most important things about the star apple is that it helps keep blood sugar levels under control. This makes it the best food for people with diabetes.

The fibre in a star apple helps keep the blood sugar level in check. It has a lot of antioxidants, which help protect the body from cancer, diabetes, and heart problems.

8. Less than 100 calories

People know that the African Star apple is low in calories. This fruit is good for people who are trying to lose weight because one serving has only 67 calories. Star apple has a lot of fibre, which can help you feel full quickly.

9. Can be used to make medicines 

The leaves, seeds, and fruits can be used to treat a number of health problems. When the leaves or bark are cooked, they can help treat diarrhoea and dysentery. The star apple tree's shell can help treat yellow fever and malaria.

The leaves of the Star apple are used to treat rashes, stomach pain, diarrhoea, and stomach pain. Star apple seeds are also used to make ointments that can be used to treat skin infections and virginals.

10. It's good for women who are pregnant

African Star apple tastes sour, and most pregnant women like it because it keeps them from feeling sick. Star apple helps a lot with some of the problems that pregnant women have, like sore throats, constipation, and upset stomachs.